Recent research indicates that individuals experiencing stress are more likely to focus on the negative traits of their partners. This is true even for newlywed couples.
Recent scientific and psychological studies suggest that a little light stress from work can stimulate the brain, but excessive stress can strain a marriage.
Light Stress Can Stimulate the Brain
In a scientific study conducted by experts at the University of Georgia (USA) published in the journal Neuropsychologia, it was found that mild levels of stress can have a beneficial effect on brain function.
The researchers examined the neural responses of 1,000 young adults aged 22 to 37 regarding their working memory. Participants underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to measure brain activity by detecting blood flow changes during work tasks.
Whether a marriage is in its early stages or has lasted for years, work-related stress can cause us to focus on our partner’s negative traits.
The research team discovered that participants who felt mild stress at work had enhanced brain stimulation, with memory networks operating more vigorously and increasing work performance.
However, when stress levels rise too high, it can harm neural function and behavior.
Additionally, the benefits of stress are more pronounced in individuals with sufficient “four psychological resources,” which include: self-efficacy (confidence in one’s abilities), meaning and purpose (feeling that their life is important and meaningful), friendship (awareness of the importance of companionship), and support tools (the availability of social networks to provide support or help alleviate stress).
Individuals who possess these four psychological resources can more easily mitigate the severity of stress, making it less intense and more manageable.
High Stress Causes Us to See Only Our Partner’s Flaws
The impact of stress on quality of life is not a new issue in science. Previous studies have indicated that stressful life circumstances can affect how couples interact, leading to disharmony in marriages.
However, new research from the University of Texas (USA) shows that individuals experiencing stress are more likely to notice only the negative aspects of their partners. This is true even for newlywed couples who are in the sweet early stages of their marriage.
The lead author of the study, Dr. Lisa Neff from the University of Texas (USA), stated: “Stress in life, especially from work-related factors, leads us to focus only on our partner’s flaws when we return home. This makes us forget their positive traits and can result in impatient behaviors and words, negatively affecting the relationship.”
The conclusions of this psychological study are based on surveys of newlywed couples. Researching newlyweds enhances the significance of the findings, as young couples tend to focus on each other’s positive behaviors while overlooking negative actions during the “honeymoon phase.”
Dr. Neff noted: “A single stressful day may not cause us to notice our partner’s flaws, but the accumulation of stress over a longer period can change our focus. At that point, traits in our partner that we once considered ‘normal and lovable’ can gradually become intolerable.”
Being aware of the impact of stress can help couples adjust their behaviors to minimize harm to their relationship.
